The Lion sleeps

I remember visiting my gramma and seeing the framed picture of JFK on the wall...reading the JFK "coffee table" book together with my grampa. I remember grampa and I walking down the road, or picking raspberries and talking about JFK, Bobby, Rose and Eddie. I grew up with the Kennedy's being part of my very own "American Royalty"....

Later in college, I actually saw Bobby Jr.'s family play football on the IU Student Union grounds...and was behind the barricades (streets were blocked off in B-town) when he married a Southern Indiana native (Emily Black? I'm not sure that's correct!)...

I bought the very 1st "George" magazine produced by John Jr., and waited in hope that his plane really didn't go down, but was lost. I mourned with so many others when the truth of that horrible accident was revealed.

I have applauded the quiet grace and presence of Caroline...and of course shook my head at the "bone-head" stuff the younger Kennedy's did... The reality is that family, is like many of our families. We love, we fight, we do STUPID things, we forgive, we grow up, we (hopefully) learn from our indiscretions and grow wiser, and we face Painful, Painful things in our relationships.

Teddy wasn't perfect, but he was passionate and full of conviction. I don't agree with him on everything, but loved his work ethic. He really LEARNED the issues and the ins/outs of programs, services, agencies...I doubt many others have done the same in our current senate.

I'm leaving for Boston to visit a friend and much of that city will be both mourning and celebrating this epic figure: a husband, father, friend, foe, servant...

SO...Ted...here's to you! Thanks for your service; thanks for growing up; thanks for showing all of us that redemption and recovery can and does happen, and that hard work really does bring about wisdom that passion can never achieve on it's own!

Guess What?

1. Medicare is a government run program
2. There are no death panels being set up by the government in the health care reform bill
3. God isn't an American, Republican, Baptist...
4. God isn't a Liberal Democrat...
5. None of us OWN God, but He owns the world
6. God's kingdom is NOT a democracy; HE is most definitely the King and we don't get a vote
7. God will not stand before us, but we will definitely stand before Him
8. The Declaration of Independence is not inspired by God, but God's Word is...every word
9. God knows we care about Him when we care about each other: when we don't/won't...
that sends Him a strong message too
10. Give me wisdom any day over passion...passion is short term, wisdom lasts forever

My prayer:

May the words of my mouth
And the thoughts of my heart
Bless your name, Bless your name
Jesus
And the deeds of the day
And the truth of my ways
Speak of you, speak of you,
Jesus

For this is what I’m glad to do
It’s time to live a life of love that pleases you
And I will give my all to you
Surrender everything I have and follow you
I’ll follow you

Lord be my vision
Lord by my guide
Be my hope
Be my light: in the way
And I’ll look not for riches
Nor praises on earth
Only You be the first of my heart

For this is what I’m glad to do
It’s time to live a life of love that pleases you
And I will give my all to you
Surrender everything I have and follow you
I’ll follow you

I’ll follow you, by Christy Nichols